Improvement in grain-drill teeth



L. BIOKPORD.

Seed Drill Teeth. NO. 102,081. Patented April 19, 18 70.

tinned- $111125 LYMAN BIOKFORD, OF MAOEDON,-NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 102,081, dated April 19, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-DRILL TEETH.

The s chedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that'I, LYMAN BIGKFORD, of Mace-. don, Wayne county, Stateof New York, have invented certain new and 'useful Improvements inDrill-Teethand its drag-bar, and

Figure 2 represents a vertical longitudinal section through the same. v

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts .in bothfigures.

' In the employment of the various constructions of drill-teeth it hasbeen customary to...hinge or pivot the teeth firmly at one point, andthen to make the connection of the tooth with the bar rigid by theemployment of a second fastening device, of such a character that, inthe event -,of the tooth meeting or coming in contact with anobstruction, such as would be likely to break the tooth or machine, suchsecond fastening would give way, and, releasing the tooth, would allowit to turn up or fold backward, turning on the pivot referred to, untilit had passed the obstruction, when it could be replaced, and againsecured in working position.

This has been considered an indispensable requisite of drill-teeth; butin the constructions heretofore used much difficulty has beenexperienced in the efforts to prevent, and much annoyance occasioned by,the breaking and cutting away of the conveyer-tubes, which conduct theseed or grain from the hopper to the teeth, said tubes entering theupper ends of the teeth, and consequently being injuriously affected bythe folding of said teeth. Where such conveyer-tubes were made ofrubber, or similar material, they are found to be rapidly cut away, andsometimes they are torn from their fastenings; and where light metallictubes are used, the lower ends of said tubes become bent and flattenedin such manner as to interfere with the proper discharge of the graintherefrom. I The object of the present improvement is to overcomethe'difliculty referred to, while, at the same time, the requisitecapability of yielding to heavy obstruo tions is preserved; and, to thisend,

The invention consists in making the tooth in two (or more) parts, oneof which (that part into which the conductor-tube enters) shall maintaina fixed relation to the drag-banand also to the conductor-tube,

In the'annexed drawing-- 1 A represents a drag-bar, through which thedrilltooth is connected to the frame of the machine, in any usualmanner. I

B is the upper portion or mouth of the drill-tooth, made in the hollow,tapering form represented, and provided in front with an arm or tongue,I), which is pivoted at a. to the bar A.

The forward end of arm b is expanded and perfor ated, as shown at b; anda pin or bolt, at a, passing through one of such perforations, andthrough the bar A, serves, in connection with pivot 01, to hold theportion B in a fixed position relative to the bar A, and at any desiredangle of relation thereto as the character of the soil operated upon mayrequire.

B is the lower furrowing portion of the tooth, made, by preference, inthe tapering form represented in the drawings, with the usualfurrowing-point at its lower end, and expanded at its upper endto'receive andinclose thelower end of the portion B.

The upper end of portion B is provided with ears through which saidportion is united with the portion B by pivot-bolts or pins, 0, onwhich, when not restrained, the lower portion B is free to turn or foldbackward, as represented in dotted lines, fig. 2, for passingobstructions.

The forward upper end of portion B has a lip, at (l,

slotted to receive a flange of arm I), through which,

and in front of lip d, a wooden pin, e, passes, which serves to hold thelower portion B of the tooth in working position.

When the tooth meets a stump, a large stone, or heavy obstruction, whichwould be liable to break it, the pin 0 breaks, and allows the lowerportion of the tooth to fold back, as shown, until the obstruction ispassed, when the tooth can be again readily replaced and secured asbefore. Any suitable fragile fastening device or arrangement of yieldingspring which will answer the same purpose may be substituted for thewooden pin 0, or its equivalent.

The upper portion B of the tooth is provided with a perforated lug orcar, 11 through which the tooth is connected, by a chain or cord, withthe lifting-roller or lever, in the usual manner.

The teeth may be constructed with additional sections, intermediatebetween 13 B',-if' desired; but for ordinary purposes the constructionshown will be found sufiicient to fully accomplish the object stated.

By this construction it will be seen that the portion of the tooth intowhich the conveyor-tube enters is always maintained in a fixed relationto said tube and the drag-banand all injury to the conveyer-tubes isthereby avoided, while that portion of the tooth which is liable to comein' contact with obstructions is furnished with the required capabilityof yielding to such obstructions, and all danger of breaking the toothis 3. The drill-tooth, made in sections, substantially thereby alsoavoided. as and for the purpose described, in combination with Havingnow described the improvement, 7 the perforated or slotted arm I) andadjusting-bolt a, \Vhat is claimed as new, and sought to be secured oran equivalent device, whereby the tooth may be I by Letters Patent, is--set at any desired angle of presentation to the ground, 1. A jointeddrill-tooth, one portion of which main as required.

tains a fixed relation -to the drag-bar, while-another LYMAN BIGKFORD.portion is made capable of yielding to obstructions, as specified. vWitnesses:

2. The drill-tooth, composed of two sections, jointed W. L. AOKER, toeach other, in combination with the wooden pin e, S. L. GILLIs.

or equivalent device, for the purpose set forth.

